NESS again to quit Rome, the POPE was determined that nothing should be done to displease the Irish Hierarchy, however anxious he was to testify his gratitude to theEnglish Government.

Leaving the negociations going on at Rome, for the present, let us revert to the history of the Catholic cause in Ireland. Great excitement prevailed throughout the three Provinces, and in Dublin, on the Veto question. Meetings were convened in various quarters. One was held in Cork, and was made remarkable both by Mr. O'CONNELL's presence and his powerful address to the people. The speech was a brilliant anti-Vetoist one.After tracing the history of the enactment and repeal of the penal laws, he then adverted to a recent charge, delivered by Judge DAY, which was a political disquisition emanating from the Bench. It was a violent attack on the Catholic Association, denouncing it as an illegal body. It was precisely the same kind of thing as the celebrated charge of Baron SMITH in 1834, and which O'CONNELL himself brought under the considération of Parliament. It is singular that the defence set up on that occasion, for Baron SMITH, was, that he had but followed the example of Judge DAY, who, though a friend of the Catholics, thus attacked their Association. O'CONNELL, in 1815, had no power to impeach in Parliament the conduct of a Judge; but at the Cork meeting, to which we allude, he did not spare his Lordship. Though there were many private reasons, for his passing over remarks coming from that quarter, he was unmerciful in his laceration of the learned functionary.

O'CONNELL'S method of thus dealing with the great, has been often blamed even by his friends. It is said, that both his father and his uncle MAURICE, of Derrynane, used their influence with him, to abandon the system of

attack, he was so fond of adopting. He resolutely refused, though the refusal might have cost him an inheritance; for his Uncle was not bound to make him his heir, and his leaning was, to the conciliatory policy. O'CONNELL knew better what was necessary for the cause of the trodden-down Catholic, which he so enthusiastically advocated. We have already spoken of this "rough work" policy of his, and alluded to the well-ascertained opinion of Lord FINGALL, expressed in his last moments. The circumstance so fully vindicates O'CONNELL, on a subject on which he has been more violently abused than on any other, that we cannot defer giving it here, though it properly belongs to the year 1836.

In the year 1836 Lord FINGALL died. Amore estimable human being never represented our nature. Everything that constituted honor, virtue, love of country was his. A very short time before his death, he requested one of the most influential members of the Catholic body, to call on Mr. P. V. FITZPATRICK, the intimate bosom friend of O'CONNELL-one who through life adhered to him with an affection and attachment creditable to both. This gentleman called as directed, and opened the conversation by saying: "Lord FINGALL is surprised that you have not recently called to see him." Mr.FITZPATRICK explained, that the only reason for it was, that he was apprehensive his visits might be unpleasant after the exclusion of Lord FINGALL'S SON from the representation of Meath, and that he was not aware his Lordship had any wish to see him. "He is," said the gentleman referred to, most anxious to see you, and has asked me to intimate his wish to you. "Then," said Mr. FITZPATRICK, "I shall at once call on him." He did so. Having announced his name, at his lordship's residence, Mr. FITZPATRICK was shewn into the library, where his Lordship was reclining on an easy

chair.

His frame seemed much attenuated, but his intellect was in its full power and brightness. After some introductory and commonplace remarks, he said, "Mr. FITZPATRICK, I have been for some time thinking whom I should pitch upon to discharge my conscience of a heavy debt, and I have fixed upon you as the most appropriate person, because you not only know me and Mr. O'CONNELL, but you knew us all who were connected with Catholic politics for years, and well. You know, too, that I went forward to an extent that caused me to be sometimes snubbed by those of my own order, in that body; but, notwithstanding, I, like them, was criminally cowardly. We never understood that we had a nation behind us-O'CONNELL alone comprehended that properly, and he used his knowledge fitly. It was by him the gates of the Constitution were broken open for us; we owe everything to his rough work, and, to effect further services for Ireland, there must be more of it. I never understood this properly, until they made me a Peer of Parliament; and I feel myself bound to make the avowal under the circumstances in which you now see me, preparatory to my passing into another world. You will communicate this to O'CONNELL, and my most earnest wish that he will receive the avowal, as an atonement for my not having always supported him, as I now feel he should have been supported."

At that time, the Clergy of the second order, took a decided stand against the Veto, and shewed a disposition, in case of necessity, of opposing even the Hierarchy, should their views take an opposite direction. This conduct was the subject of remark, in a sermon delivered by a revered and venerable regular, now resident in Cork.The sermon produced a great sensation at the period, and, of course, was the subject of much comment at both sides

-of praise at one-of censure at the other. This re spected Clergyman was then a first-rate preacher. To this day, the talent continues; though his advanced age does not admit of its frequent use. Mr. O'CONNELL adopted, of course, the side of the Clergy, and very sharply took the Reverend Friar to task. When we recollect that this Clergyman was as much anti-Vetoist as Mr. O'CONNELL, and that his observations applied to a matter of Church discipline, it is plain it was a subject, that ought, for the sake of union, have been avoided at a Catholic meeting. But the feelings of both parties were so excited in these days, that it is now difficult to criticise, with justice, their acts, or appreciate their motives.

The most memorable Meeting held this year, 1815, was the Aggregate Meeting in Dublin, on the 27th of August, where O'CONNELL made the celebrated Speech, in which he taunted Mr. PEEL with dastardly conduct, in saying of him in Parliament, what he dared not utter elsewhere.This defiance led to another affair of honor; the narrative of which, taken from the publications of the day, will bring the eventful history of our Great Countryman to the end of 1815.

"Dublin was a good deal agitated in September, 1815, by a variety of reports, respecting an affair of honour, subsisting between Mr. O'CONNELL and Mr. PEEL.

66 'It appears that the charge made by Mr. PEEL on Mr. O'CONNELL was, that he had said, in the course of a speech, that he, Mr. PEEL, "would not dare, in the presence, or in any place, where he was liable to personal account, use a single expression derogatory to his integrity or his honour." The passage was in the following words :

"All I shall say of him, (Mr. PEEL,) by way of pa

renthesis, is, that I am told he has in my absence, and in a place where he was protected from any account, grossly traduced me. I said, at the last Meeting, in presence of the note takers of the police, who are paid by him, that he was too prudent to attack me in my presence. I see the same police informers here now, and I authorise them, carefully to report these my words-that Mr. PEEL would not dare, in my presence, or in any place, where he was liable to personal account, use a single expression derogatory to my integrity or my honour."

The whole transaction was communicated to the public in the following memorandum, addressed

"TO THE EDITOR OF THE DUBLIN CORRESPONDENT. "SIR-AS I feel anxious that an early statement of a recent transaction, in which I have borne a part, should be before the public, I enclose a memorandum, to which I have to beg you will give insertion in your paper.

64

"I am, sir, your obedient and humble servant,
"CHARLES SAXTON.

'Dublin, September 1, 1815.

"MEMORANDUM―That on Thursday, the 31st of August, I called on Mr. O'CONNELL, and informed him, that Mr. PEEL had understood, he had expressed a wish at a public meeting, on Tuesday last, that some communication should be made as from him to Mr. PEEL, who was desirous of learning the purport and terms of that communication, and that I had waited on him from Mr. PEEL, for the purpose of obtaining them.

"To that application, after ascertaining that what he should say would not subject him to any consequences, either of law or parliamentary privilege, Mr. O'CONNELL stated the expressions used by him on the occasion referred to, in terms so substantially the same as the Report